NPL First Division East
18 April 2023
Carlton Town’s battle against relegation took another twist this evening as their game against Pontefract Collieries was abandoned following a serious injury to Niall Davie.
Davie collapsed to the floor on 31 minutes with suspected concussion as the result of an earlier incident and was treated on the pitch for around 40 minutes before being stretchered off to the clubhouse bar to await transport to hospital.
Pontefract were leading 1-0 at the time in a tight encounter but following consultation with the managers the referee abandoned the game. With the season due to end on Saturday the likelihood is that the Millers will travel back to Pontefract on Thursday to complete the fixture.
Managers Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made three changes to the side which had lost at Lincoln last time out. Into the side came Lawrence Gorman, Lewis Durow and Kyle Tomlin with Jared Holmes, Danny Elliott and Charlie Marzano on the bench.
The Millers started with much greater sharpness than in the Lincoln game but it was Colls who had the first opportunity when Dan Brown did well to block a Cody Cromack effort.
Davie then sprinted down the right and put over a dangerous cross that was cleared.
Pontefract took the lead on 11 minutes when a long throw from the right was only half cleared and Mikey Dunn struck a half-volley into the corner of the net.
Niall Hylton almost levelled within a minute when his fine run down the right led to a corner.
Shortly afterwards Davie went down following what looked like a flailing elbow to his head. He was treated for some time but eventually got back to his feet and made it clear he wanted to play on.
Gorman then sent a superb ball into the area which was met by a Nat Watson header that drew a fine save from Lloyd Allinson before Davie himself put a deep ball into the Colls area leading to a neat turn and shot from Watson which Allinson also saved.
On 31 minutes Tomlin flicked the ball into the path of Hylton who darted forward only for the goalkeeper to clear. Davie had run forward to support the attack but then fell to floor on the edge of the box under no challenge. The referee immediately stopped the game and physios from both sides rushed on to treat him.
It became clear fairly quickly that Davie had suffered a significant injury and would need medical assistance. An ambulance was called and Davie was cared for on the pitch with players from both sides returning to the dressing rooms.
After about half an hour a paramedic arrived and shortly afterwards an ambulance arrived at the ground. Davie, understood to be conscious throughout albeit severely dazed, was stretchered off to generous applause from supporters of both sides and was taken to the bar area of the clubhouse for initial assessment before being taken to Wakefield hospital, accompanied by Harvey and Brookbanks. By that stage the crowd had been informed that the match had been abandoned.
With the league campaign having to conclude on Saturday and Carlton in the thick of a relegation battle, it seems there is little alternative but for the game to be rearranged for this coming Thursday 20 April. In the meantime the best wishes of the 40 or so supporters who made the trip tonight and the many more who were following the game on the internet are sent to Niall, one of the most popular players ever to wear the yellow and blue shirt. We wish him all the very best in his recovery.
Carlton Town: M Emery, L Gorman, L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, K Sargent, K Tomlin, N Davie, A Troke, N Watson, N Hylton. Unused substitutes: R Stainsby, J Holmes, D Elliott, Z Hill, C Marzano
Goals: Mikey Dunn 11
Att: TBA